Education

«Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world» - Nelson Mandela

Photo: German Embassy/GIZ

Education is the best cure for poverty. Studies from all over the world finds that education increases income, makes people healthier, save children’s lives, promotes jobs, boosts the economy, and fosters peace.

The Norwegian Government’s White Paper on education from 2014 (Meld. St. 25, 2013 – 2014) clearly states that Norway shall be a proactive partner in supporting good quality education for all on a global scale. By signing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Norway has committed herself to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Nepal has made tremendous progress in ensuring free and inclusive education for all during the last decade. In 2017, 97,2% of all children started school, and the figure is more or less the same for girls as for boys. As many as 77,4% of the children who start school continue to grade 8, and among the 15 to 24 year old, 88,6% can read and write.

Despite great achievements, significant challenges remain. Two of the most pressing issues are the low quality of education as well as still high drop-out rates. The latest figure tells us that around 80 000 children are out of school. This includes children that have never enrolled in school, and children that have dropped out. Typically, the out of school children are girls, children with disabilities, and children from other marginalised groups and communities. But even for the children that do go to school, the learning achievements are generally low. This is mainly, but not exclusively, due to lack of teachers, teachers being absent from work, old fashioned and outdated curriculum and methods of teaching.

Norway remains a committed partner to aid with Nepal’s priorities within education.

HIGHLIGHTED PROJECTS

School Sector Development Programme (SSD)

Norway has supported Nepal’s sector programme for education since 2009. A particular focus for the support is on the inclusion of girls, children with disabilities, and children from other marginalised groups and communities. As part of the programme, Norway has supported the development of a targeted tool to help reduce the number of out of school children. Figures from the first 5 provinces shows a 22,4% decrease in the number of out of school children. The plan is to cover the entire country and to reduce the number of out of school children to 5% by 2021. Norway’s grant is NOK 231 million 2016-2019. Implementing partner is the Ministry of Education.

Better financial management in the education sector

Norway is through Asian Development Bank supporting efforts to improve the financial management of the education sector. The project will among others help to improve government financial accounting system and reporting mechanisms, and thereby ensuring better accountability and transparency of funds.
Norway’s grant is NOK 5 million 2017-2019. Implementing partner ADB.

Support to the reconstruction of schools damaged by the earthquake

The earthquakes of 2015 hit the education sector hard. A total of 7533 schools were partially or completely damaged. Out of these 5505 have been completely rebuilt or are in the process of being built. Norway supports the reconstruction of 36 schools, implemented by GIZ (14 schools) and FORUT (22 schools) together with the local NGO CWIN/Tuki. The two projects will benefit around 5899 children in four of the hardest hit districts. All schools will have good learning environment with proper classrooms, a library and book corner, have separate toilet for girls and boys, be earthquake safe and disabled friendly. Norway’s grant is NOK 47,74 million. Implementing partner is GIZ, FORUT/CWIN.

Cross-cutting issues

All measures funded by the Norwegian government are required to be based on these principles

Climate change and the environment

Climate change and environmental damage are destroying ecosystems, with negative repercussions for development, health and food production. It is important that our projects take climate change and the environment into account.

Human Rights & Gender Equality

The promotion of human rights and democratic principles is a crucial part of Norwegian foreign policy. There is a special focus on gender equality where the fundamental aim is to increase the opportunities available to women and girls, promote their right to self-determination, and further their empowerment.

Zero-tolerance policy on corruption

Norway practices a zero-tolerance on corruption. If you have any suspicions of financial irregularities or other misconduct in our programmes or implementing partners, go to our contact page.

Transparency and open data

The Norwegian Aid Statistics portal gives you easy access to all official statistics about Norwegian development assistance from 1960 until today. You can choose your own content and scope of the report, and get the numbers as maps, graphs and tables.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' grant portal provides an overview of all grants from the Ministry and Norad for which agreements have been entered into, and for which disbursements are planned for this year and for up to the next four years.